Newark Gives Local High School Students ‘Pipeline’ To NJIT

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the City of Newark. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) President Joel S. Bloom, and Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León launched a partnership with the university to create two initiatives: NJIT/Newark Math Success and The Mayor’s Honors Scholars Program, in a press conference Feb. 27 at City Hall.

The NJIT/Newark Math Success Initiative (MSI) will seek to dramatically increase by doubling the number of Newark residents who enroll at NJIT for undergraduate education. Currently, only about 200 Newark students are attending NJIT.

“As a 22-year-educator in Newark Public Schools, I know just how dedicated, talented, and motivated our students are to succeed in the classroom and in life. I also know that numbers of them must overcome considerable challenges to gain the high grades they need to in turn achieve their goals in life. This partnership between NJIT, Newark Public Schools, and the City will enable many deserving Newark students to gain a pipeline to classes, scholarships, and networking that will in turn enable them to attend college and excel. These two initiatives are more than an academic opportunity for our youth – they are an investment in our city’s future,” Mayor Baraka said.

The Mayor’s Honors Scholars program at NJIT will create opportunities for talented students from the Newark Public Schools to enroll in NJIT’s Albert Dorman Honors College. Each year, NJIT will work with the Newark Public Schools to select three Mayor’s Honors Scholars for admission to ADHC. These students will receive full scholarships as well as paid internships with the City of Newark during the summer months.

Established in 1995 through the generosity of NJIT alumnus Albert Dorman, who founded AECOM Technology Corporation (the largest architecture and engineering firm in the world), the ADHC has been ranked as a top public honors college by Inside Honors. Students in the ADHC have exclusive access to the James Kennedy Honors Center and may apply to live within the Honors Residence Hall. Their curriculum includes special classes, seminars, colloquia (lectures, trips, networking with distinguished speakers and alumni) as well as opportunities to engage in research and practical learning experiences, such as co-ops, internships and apprenticeships.

“These two STEM-focused programs will change the lives of thousands of Newark students,” said Superintendent León. “The initiatives will allow us to move our agenda for education and student scholarship forward. We are redefining our high schools and Dr. Bloom and NJIT and Mayor Baraka are providing a pathway to progress and success for our students and for that I am grateful.”

The goal of the NJIT/Newark Math Success Initiative is to increase the total enrollment of Newark residents at NJIT to a minimum of 600 through a partnership between NJIT, the Office of the Mayor and the Newark Public Schools. The MSI will provide direct mathematics instruction and support to rising 12th graders and mathematics-certified teachers at the following high schools: Central, Science Park, Technology, and Malcolm X. Shabazz, where NJIT alumnus Naseed Gifted is principal. This will begin in the summer of 2019 and continue throughout the academic year. The program is designed to strengthen Newark high school students’ mathematics knowledge, skills and preparation for college work, so they are able to succeed as first-semester, first-year college freshmen taking MATH 111 Calculus at NJIT.

The first cohort of MIS students, as well as eight teachers, will complete a seven-week program from June 24 - August 9, 2019, on NJIT’s campus. Hands-on, applied mathematics instruction will be enhanced by counseling, tutoring, and other college preparatory support services interspersed with recreational activities in campus facilities. The participating high school teachers will engage in professional development activities and will be mentored by NJIT mathematics faculty while supporting students working in small groups during class instruction and recitation. They also may conduct research with NJIT faculty in mathematics pedagogy and applications. The Newark Public Schools will identify the students and faculty participating in the program.

During the academic year, selected high school teachers will meet monthly with NJIT mathematics faculty members through a combination of on-line and face-to-face interactions to further explore mathematics pedagogy. They also will build a peer network that will be extended to mathematics teachers assigned to other Newark high schools. The academic year experience for the student cohort will feature instruction in credit-bearing mathematics courses during the week and on Saturdays at NJIT. Students also will receive assistance with submitting the Common Application accepted by the NJIT Office of Admissions and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

“Math is the foundation for success in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, and STEM is where the greatest career opportunities exist. We will continue to partner with Mayor Baraka and Superintendent Leon to make math proficiency less of a barrier for Newark students, so they can take advantage of having one of the nation’s leading polytechnic universities right in their own hometown,” President Bloom explained. “In addition to the programmatic aspects of this effort, NJIT will work to assure that none of these students leave our university because of financial need by investing more than $1 million per year to support their success.”

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